Two-Phase Reactions in Microdroplets

Abstract

Improved two phase chemical reactions (liquid-liquid or liquid-gas) are provided by forming microdroplets of either or both liquid reagents and configuring the reaction as a collision between the microdroplet reagent and the other reagent. We have found that this approach can provide high reaction yields in short times (<1 s) without the use of a phase transfer catalyst.

1 . A method for performing a chemical reaction, the method comprising:
 selecting a first liquid reagent;   selecting a second liquid reagent, wherein the first liquid reagent and the second liquid reagent are immiscible with respect to each other;   nebulizing the first liquid reagent in a first shearing gas flow to provide first microdroplets of the first reagent;   configuring the second liquid reagent as second microdroplets of the second reagent in a second shearing gas flow, or as a thin film of the second reagent;   directing the first microdroplets at the second reagent to provide a chemical reaction between the first and second liquid reagents by colliding the first microdroplets with the second reagent.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first microdroplets have a diameter from 0.1 micron to 100 microns. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the second microdroplets have a diameter from 0.1 micron to 100 microns or the thin film of the second reagent has a thickness of 100 microns or less. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the chemical reaction is selected from the group consisting of: C-, N-, O- and S-alkylation; etherification; esterification; transesterification; condensation; carbene reaction; nucleophilic displacement epoxidation; oxidation; and polymerization. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a reaction time of the chemical reaction is 1 second or less. 
     
     
         6 . A method for performing a chemical reaction, the method comprising:
 selecting a liquid reagent;   selecting a gaseous reagent;   nebulizing the liquid reagent in a first shearing gas flow to provide microdroplets of the liquid reagent;   directing the microdroplets at the gaseous reagent to provide a chemical reaction between the liquid reagent and the gaseous reagent by colliding the first microdroplets with the gaseous reagent.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the first shearing gas flow is a shearing gas flow of the gaseous reagent. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the gaseous reagent is provided at least in part in a second gas flow distinct from the first shearing gas flow, and wherein the first shearing gas flow and the second gas flow are directed at each other. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the first shearing gas flow is a shearing gas flow of the gaseous reagent. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the microdroplets have a diameter from 0.1 micron to 100 microns. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the chemical reaction is selected from the group consisting of: C-, N-, O- and S-alkylation; etherification; esterification; transesterification; condensation; carbene reaction; nucleophilic displacement epoxidation; oxidation; and polymerization. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein a reaction time of the chemical reaction is 1 second or less.